Some time back in the 1980s I bought a piece of curtain/beadspread fabric at the shop at Lower Sabie, the brown one with impala lilies and birds on that used to be in every room. I think it has the Sanparks logo on too. I must make something from it and use it.

We bought some wooden carved Yellow-billed Hornbills from Numbi Gate's craft stall. Purchased date was May 2012. In late October 2012 we noticed some wood borings on the floor under the souvenir and found some small holes had appeared in the souvenir which is light wood. What would this insect be and is there a danger of the insect spreading to other wood in the house?

We bought masks at Maropeng in 2010 and the same thing happened. We got stuff from a place on one of the Dutch Islands - Texel. You spray it with it etc etc. Took a couple of treatments to get rid of it. I have no idea what to use in South Africa though.... I would suggest going to a Hardware store or Garden centre immediately.

I suggest though I might be wrong Get a stong plastic bag pop the wood carving in it spray with "doom" or any crawling insect spray and seal and leave it a day or two . repeat if necessary . Has worked for me .

I seem to remember that at least the shop in Lower Sabie (and perhaps others, too) do sell zebra skins - does anybody know if they are from "real" zebras (because here in europe they also offer cow leather painted with zebra stripes)? and how much do they appr. cost?

if they are from "real" zebras I wonder where they come from: from special farms or indeed from inside the park (which I seriously doubt). last but not least: if you buy one, do you get some sort of certificate to avoid trouble when leaving the country and re-entering your own?

The skin is real and is sourced from outside. There are a lot of hunting establishments in South Africa and therefor no shortage of skins. The meat (together with horse meat) finds its way into salamis, polonis and viennas.

Prices range from R8 000,00 for a grade B skin up to about R18 000, 00 for an A grade. It depends on size, shape and colour.

An export permit is required as well as all the import permits from the country of destination, before you are allowed to ship out the skin.